Code Iowa

What is "Code Iowa?"

"Code Iowa" works in partnership with Code.org's "Hour of Code," which is an opportunity for every student to try coding for one hour during Computer Science Education Week (CSEd Week) from December 5 to 11, 2016. The national campaign comes after an obvious job demand: Currently, only roughly 43,000 computer science graduates are trained and available to fill more than 500,000 computing jobs in the nation (Code.org).

Last year, 590,000 Iowans tried an hour of code during CSEd Week with more than 100 million people involved around the world. Code.org believes introducing computer programming to students (even for an hour) will change the statistics to meet the demand of a society that is dependent on the innovation and economic growth that stems from computer science and coding.

The “Code Iowa" partnership—thanks to a $40,000 gift from Google and Verizon this year—helps generate interest and participation from Iowa educators, school districts, community organizations, parents and students with the hopes of establishing a continued interest to incorporate computer science into schools and afterschool learning environments across the state.

Plus, all of the programming is hosted for FREE on Code.org year-round and expands beyond just one hour of coding for those interested. Just trying it out might light the spark in the next Steve Jobs, Bill Gates or our own, Iowa-bred Ben Silbermann, co-founder of Pinterest.

The Demand in Iowa

Think about these popular programs... Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Dropbox, Instagram, video games, banking apps, the Internet and the list goes on. That list exists only because someone, somewhere learned computer science. Unfortunately, it's not as accessible in Iowa, according to Code.org:

Schools Win Technology Awards

The STEM Council, Google, and Code.org has helped award 12 Iowa schools for their participation in the "Hour of Code" between 2014 and 2015 and created Certified Code Iowa Partners, a resource of interested educators in taking computer science beyond an hour in the classroom.

To be eligible this year, schools and informal organizations can:

1) SUBMIT AN APPLICATION BY NOVEMBER 18, 2016

Educators can SUBMIT AN APPLICATION (Closed at 5:00 p.m., November 18) on how their school or informal organization will participate in the "Hour of Code" by November 18, 2016 to be eligible to win one of six, $3,500 technology awards from the STEM Council. One school in each of the six STEM regions will be selected after applications are reviewed in late November.

2) BECOME A CERTIFIED CODE IOWA PARTNER

ALL schools and informal organizations that submit a plan to receive the technology awards will become "Certified Code Iowa Partners" and receive a certificate of their partnership and information about free computer science trainings happening across Iowa in 2017 for all K-12 educators. More information will be provided in early January 2017.

3) DO THE "HOUR OF CODE" DURING DECEMBER 5-11, 2016

The "Hour of Code" happens all week long during CSEd Week. Make sure you register your event on the Hour of Code website to receive additional offerings from Code.org and to be considered a Certified Code Iowa Partner as mentioned above.

If your classroom or school is participating in the event, post pictures on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using #CodeIowa or @IowaSTEM to share your experience with us that week.